Tom Izzo: ‘The Big Ten Is Really Good Top To Bottom’

BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 04: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans is seen on the sidelines during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on January 4, 2014 in Bloomington, Indiana. Michigan State defeated Indiana 73-56. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 04: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans is seen on the sidelines during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on January 4, 2014 in Bloomington, Indiana. Michigan State defeated Indiana 73-56. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

If you look at the AP Top 25 poll, you’ll see eight different conferences represented among the top 10. They are, in order, the Pac-12 (Arizona), ACC (Syracuse), Big Ten (Wisconsin and Michigan State), Missouri Valley (Wichita State), Big East (Villanova), SEC (Florida), Big-12 (Iowa State and Oklahoma State) and Mountain West (San Diego State).

Is it just Brandon Tierney, or do things seem a little more jumbled this year?

“Well, I think everybody’s shocked that right now there’s no Carolina, Duke and Kentucky – even Kansas, although they’re playing better; they just beat Iowa State last night,” Spartans head coach Tim Izzo said on The Morning Show. “But I think our league has deserved the last couple years the high rankings we’ve got. I think Wisconsin is awfully good this year. Ohio State is really good. I think you’re going to see a team like Iowa – they are for real. I picked them as my preseason sleeper – not my sleeper, because I knew they’d be good, but I think Fran (McCaffery) has done an incredible job there. And the league is really good top to bottom. That’s what’s so great about it.”